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Challenging the theory of Artificial Immunity

Challenging the theory of
Artificial Immunity

by Keith W. Wassung

The practice of vaccination against disease
began in 1796 by Edward Jenner, who used the pus of blisters from cowpox to
vaccinate people against smallpox.

Despite the fact that vaccination is perhaps
viewed as the strongest preventive measure against disease in modern health
care, its practice and protocol has been challenged in recent years by a
growing number of doctors and scientists, as well as a large number of parents.
Recent immunology research and the availability of health information has
caused the challenge of the foundational tenets of vaccination.

"The control, or even
eradication of childhood disease has been heralded as one of medicine's finest
accomplishments, yet there is a growing suspicion that infection intervention
may have an adverse effect on the patients. As childhood infections have
decreased, chronic afflictions have increased" 1 The Economist,
Nov 22, 1997

"Lately, there has been a
swell of complaints from groups and individuals about vaccine side effects and
the lack of long-term scientific studies and safety data on vaccines. And, at a
time when there are more than 200 vaccines in the pipeline, concern is mounting
that high-profile vaccine advocates and the lobbies they represent, exert an
inordinate influence on the setting of government vaccine policy." 2
ABC News

It may seem incredulous to challenge the
practice of vaccination. After all, it has claimed responsibility for the
eradication of many diseases in the past 100 years including polio, smallpox,
whooping cough and diptheria. But these claims are largely based on epidemic
studies, rather than on clinical evidence of effectiveness. Europe for example,
experienced the same rise and decline of polio cases yet never had the polio
vaccine. In addition, many diseases that were once thought to be eradicated,
simply take on different forms and are given different names. For example,
spinal meningitis and polio have almost identical symptoms. We have learned an
incredible amount of information in recent years about the complex workings of
the immune system, mostly due to advances in cancer, genetics and AIDS
research.

This has shed new light on the inner
workings of the immune system. One thing we have learned is that simply
altering the natural physiology of the body may temporarily give the appearance
of resolution of disease, but may actually create more problems in the long
run. Virtually all studies of effectiveness of vaccines are based on statistical
data and the presence or absence of disease. There has never been any
medical studies that have been performed that clearly demonstrate that vaccines
increase the immune system competence of the human body, nor has there been
any medical studies on the long term effects of vaccines.

It must be understood that vaccine studies
are economically influenced by the pharmaceutical industry, which has
tremendous influence on the outcome of these studies. Vaccine sales represent a
huge profit for these companies and a certain amount of economic bias will
always be involved.

"The Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices, (ACIP) a group of individuals hand picked by the Center
for Disease Control (CDC), recommends which vaccines are administered to American
children. Working mainly in secret, ACIP members frequently have financial
links to vaccine manufacturers. Dependent on CDC funding, state vaccination
programs follow CDC directives by influencing state legislatures to mandate new
vaccines. Federal vaccine funds can be denied to states which do not
"vigorously enforce" mandatory vaccination laws. Conversely, the CDC
offers financial bounties to state health departments for each "fully
vaccinated" child" 3The Medical Sentinel, 1999

The past decade has seen a number of books
and articles written which challenge the practice of vaccinations, mostly on
the grounds of the potential side effects and long term latent effects of the
vaccine.

These topics are certainly a factor in the
vaccination debate, but the real issue is whether or not vaccines actually
produce lasting immunity that is at least equal or superior to immunity that is
obtained via natural exposure. This article provides the last scientific
evidence in answering that particular question.

Fundamentals of the Immune System

The Immune System is the name of a
collection of molecules, cells, and organs whose complex interaction form an
efficient system that is usually able to protect an individual from both
outside invaders and its own altered internal cells which lead to cancer.

The immune system is comprised of the
lymphoid tissues and organs of the body. Lymphoid tissues are widely
distributed. They are concentrated in bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, liver,
thymus, and Peyer's patch scattered in the linings of the GI tract.

The lymphoid system is encompassed by the
system of mononuclear phagocytes (equivalent to the reticuloen- endothelial
system or RES) Lymphocytes are the predominant cells, but macrophages and
plasma cells are present also. Lymphocytes are cells which circulate,
alternating between the circulatory blood stream and the lymphatic channels of
the body.

The immune system is divided into two
components, non-specific, also referred to as innate or non-adaptive
immunity and specific which is also known as acquired or adaptive
immunity. The breakdown into non-specific and specific is for classification
purposes only as there is a constant and complex interaction, coordination and
communication between all parts of the immune system. The majority of the
immune resistance occurs in the non-specific components.

"The non-specific defense
system responds immediately to protect the body from all foreign substances,
whatever they are. The non-specific system reduces the workload of the specific
defense system, by preventing entry and spread of micro-organisms throughout
the entire body" 4 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology

"In the 1980's Paola's team
at the Pasteur Institute in Paris showed that 98% of the immune response
triggered at the early stages of infection is non-specific. 5 Nature
Medicine, April 2000

Lines of Defense

1st lines of defense are the physical barriers which
include the skin, mucosal membrane, tears, ciliary elevator, and urine.
Chemical barriers include sebum sweat, stomach acid and lysozymes.

2nd lines of defense are the macrophage system,
complement, fever, interferons and inflammation. The macrophage system
attacks and consumes pathogens by engulfing them, a process known as
phagocytosis.

Complement cooperates with macrophages by
attaching to foreign cells and initiating the ingestion of the cells by
phagocytosis. Interferons are a class of proteins; activated by fever that
prevent viral replication in surrounding cells and also inhibit the growth of
cancer cells.

"The antiviral action of
interferons provide a major host defense against viral infections" 6
Essentials of Medicine

Fever is a powerful part of the immune
system, as it interferes with pathogen growth, inactivates many pathogen
toxins, and facilitates a more intense immune system response. Many physicians
now recommend allowing fevers to run their course.

"Fever is a systematic
response to infection. It is generally agreed that moderate elevation of body
temperature improves the body's disease fighting capacity" 7
Human Physiology

When tissue injury occurs, whether caused by
bacteria or viruses, etc, substances such as bradykinins, complement, and
histamines are released. This process is called inflammation and it strongly
activates the macrophage system to remove damaged cell tissue. Inflammation is
a vital part of the healing and repair process of the immune system and when it
is delayed or inhibited, healing and repair is incomplete.

"Inflammation is one of the
most important mechanisms of host defense since it marshals the attack on the
injurious agent and leads to repair of the affected tissue." 8
The Cell Biology of Inflammation

3rd lines of defense are the specific system also known
as acquired or adaptive immunity. The specific system consists of B cells
(humoral), and T cells (cell-mediated). These cells have mechanisms for
selecting a precisely defined target and for developing memory to the
antigen, so that subsequent exposures will result in a more efficient and
effective response.

Definition of Immunity

1. Protection against infectious
disease by either specific or non-specific mechanisms.

2. Pertaining to the immune
system or immune response 9 Dorland's Medical Dictionary

Every standard definition of immunity
involves the overall competence of both the non-specific and specific
components of the immune system to recognize, isolate and eliminate foreign
pathogens. This competence also involves the ability of the immune system to be
able to distinguish between self and non-self. Immunity is the body's ability
to establish and maintain molecular identity. There is a huge difference
between true immunity and the absence of symptoms of disease.

Theory and Practice of
Vaccines

Vaccines are suspensions of infectious
agents used to artificially induce immunity against specific diseases. The aim
of vaccination is to mimic the process of naturally occurring infection through
artificial means. Theoretically, vaccines produce a mild to moderate episode of
infection in the body with only minor side effects. They are said to work by
causing the formation of antibodies, which are proteins that defend the body
from an invasion by harmful germs.

Vaccines are grouped into three different
types:

Attentuated microbes,in which the antigen is diluted or
weakened. Attenuated vaccines include those to prevent measles, mumps,
rubella, polio and chicken pox.

Killed organisms, fragmented organisms, or antigens produced by
recombinant DNA technology. Examples of these include pertussis,
Hib, Heptatitis-B, and many of the experimental HIV vaccines.

Toxoids which are comprised of the toxins of particular infections
such as tetanus or diptheria and have been partially detoxified by heat or
chemical treatment.

Vaccines contain chemical preservatives such
as mercury, formaldehyde, and aluminum, which prevent contamination. Mercury
has been linked to numerous central nervous system and developmental disorders.

"The Center for Disease
Control recognizes a "small but statistically significant association
between cumulative mercury from vaccines and neurological disorders, such as
autism, tics, attention deficit disorder, language and speech disorders, and
other neurological development delays" 10

Portals of Entry

The human body is designed to be able to
defend itself against foreign invaders, much like a castle or a fortress with
outer and inner walls and then interior perimeter barriers. The majority of
pathogens that enter the body do so via the mouth and nose. The upper
respiratory area is packed with powerful defense mechanisms designed to combat
and filter these foreign invaders. Every possible portal of entry in the human
body is lined with mucous membrane, a defense mechanism loaded with powerful
secretory IgA.

"IgA is the key defender
against viral infections"11 Essentials of Medicine

Natural immunity happens only after actually
recovering from the actual disease. When naturally exposed to pathogens, the
organism has to pass through the body's natural defense systems in the body
before it ever reaches the bloodstream. A tremendous amount of biological
events are triggered which are essential in developing true immunity long
before the pathogen is ever comes into contact with the bloodstream.

Vaccination by direct injection into the
bloodstream bypasses much of the normal defenses of the immune system, which
produces only partial immunity.

There is a greater quantity of biological
communication in the human body than all of the man made communication systems in
the world combined. Signaling is essential to the development of immunity.

"No one could survive
without precise signaling in cells. The body functions properly only because
the cells constantly communicate with each other" 12 Scientific
American, June 2000

Cytokines are low-molecular weight proteins
that control, coordinate, and regulate various immune or inflammatory
responses. The importance of cytokines in the host response to infection cannot
be overstated. Full protection against disease requires the involvement of many
different systems of the body and it is the cytokines that coordinate them.
Vaccines inhibit the normal function of cytokines, and in fact new vaccines
specifically target cytokine activity.

"Recently, gene therapy and
DNA vaccination has been used to produce memory against a number of cytokines
that promote inflammation. Antibodies to the product of each inserted gene were
produced. These antibodies were found to prevent the effects of the
cytokines" 13 Immunology, 1998

Vaccine and Antibody Production

The clinical evidence for vaccines is their
ability to stimulate antibody production in the recipient, a fact that is not
disputed. What is not clear, however, is whether such antibody production
produces immunity.

The most predominant forms of life are
viruses, bacteria and fungi, each with countless numbers of varieties and
strains. When the weight and number of these organisms are multiplied together,
they are the greatest biomass in existence on earth.

"Infection with viruses does
not always result in disease. In fact, a great majority of virus
infections remain asymptomatic. Even before the introduction of
poliovirus vaccination about 98% of infected humans developed only minor
flu-like illness or no illness at all. Of 45,000 U.S. military personnel
inoculated in 1942 with a yellow fever vaccine inadvertently contaminated Hep-B
virus, only about 900 developed clinical hepatitis and only 33 had severe
disease." 14

New York University Medical School

Scientific evidence questioning the role of
antibodies in disease protection can be found in research performed by Dr. Alec
Burton, published in a study by the British Medical Council. The study
investigated the relationship between the incidence of diphtheria and the
presence of antibodies. The purpose of the research was to determine the
existence or nonexistence of antibodies in people who developed diphtheria and
in those who did not. The conclusion was that there was no relation whatsoever
between antibody count and incidence of disease. The researchers found
people who were highly resistant with extremely low antibody counts, and people
who developed the disease who had high antibody counts.

Dr. Burton also discovered that children
born with a-gamma globulinemia (inability to produce antibodies) develop and
recover from measles and other infectious or contagious disease almost as
quickly as other children.15

"Natural Immunity is a
complex phenomenon involving many organs and systems. It cannot be duplicated
by the artificial stimulation of antibody production" 16
Dispelling Vaccine Myths

There exist a finite number of immune system
cells that are able to respond to foreign antigens. Once a specific immune cell
responds to a particular antigen it becomes committed to that specific antigen
and is unable to respond to any other pathogen. Vaccination results in a
greater commitment of specific immune cells that would be utilized in natural
exposure, which may actually weaken the repertoire of immune cells.

Cause of Long Term Immunity

Recent research by Dr. Rafi Ahmed
and his colleagues has shown that the stable maintenance of total memory cells
may be dictated by the principle of homeostasis. Models suggest that the total
number of cells in the immune system is constant and the long-term maintenance
of cellular immunity may be regulated by competition for space by memory cells.
As an individual is exposed to new pathogens, some memory cells may need to
make way for new ones. Since the total number of memory cells can be very large,
the immune system is normally capable of maintaining immunity to many pathogens
at once. The impact of new pathogens could govern the loss of existing memory
cells, and might explain the loss of memory to certain viruses. 17
Emory Vaccine Research Center

The ability to remember and respond to
invading organisms, even years later, is one of the fundamental features of the
immune system. Traditionally, it was thought that memory cells were developed
after initial exposures, but new research demonstrates that multiple exposures
are required to develop T cell memory.

Scientists figure out how immune system
remembers

Reuters-media: Scientists have figured out how the immune system
"remembers" enemies it has encountered in the past. A report in the
journal Science shows that so-called memory T cells are extremely slow
learners. Scientists knew that one particular type of T cells, known as CD8
cells, could either become vicious attackers that immediately kill invaders, or
could become "memory" cells that help to quickly flag invaders if
they ever show up again. Scientists at the University of Chicago found that the
process by which memory cells are made are excruciatingly slow. They found that
several generations of the cells must be exposed to the troublemaker before
some of them can become memory T cells specific for it. "This finding
suggests that the basic approach to vaccines is not likely to produce the
desired result" said Phillip Rickhardt, one of the researchers. 18

Lasting Immunity

The notion that vaccines create a life-long
immunity that is equal or superior to natural immunity is not even claimed in
medical literature. They only claim that vaccines reduce the symptoms of
diseases.

"The practice of DPT
vaccination has played a major role inmarkedly reducing the incidence rates of
cases from each of those diseases." 19 Connaught Labratories

"It is true that natural
infection almost always causes better immunity than vaccines. Whereas immunity
from disease often follows a single, natural infection, immunity from vaccines
occurs only after several doses." 20 Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia

"One problem with
inactivated influenza vaccines is that the immunity generated is only partial.
In the presence of a strong adjuvant, antigens can stimulate B cells and induce
a good humoral response, however, there is little cell-mediated immunity
generated by a killed product. This means that the difference between disease
and protection or at least a more rapid recovery from disease. Also, the
immunity provided by a killed product is short lived." 21
Center for Biologics Laboratory

"The antigens contained in
many inject able vaccines will not produce an immune response sufficient enough
to confer protection against infection. Of the 23 vaccines currently in routine
use, 20 are delivered by injection and stimulate only systemic immunity" 22
Avant Immunotherapeutics

If it cannot be demonstrated that vaccines
create lifelong immunity by strengthening the immune system, then they must
achieve their objective of reducing case numbers of disease by actually
weakening or suppressing the normal function of the immune response. The idea
that vaccines work by subtle immune suppression is receiving rapid support
within the scientific and research community

"It is dangerously
misleading and indeed the exact opposite of the truth to claim that a vaccine
makes us "immune' or protects us against an acute disease, if in fact it
only drives the disease deeper into the interior and causes us to harbor it
chronically, with the result that our responses to it become progressively
weaker and show less and less tendency to heal or resolve themselves
spontaneously" 23 Dr. Robert Moskowitz, Dissent in Medicine

Over time, the term vaccine has
evolved to include all preparations used to generate protective immunity to
microbial pathogens or their toxins. More recently, the definition of vaccine
has been further expanded to include antigenic materials used to tolerate or
turn off antigen-specific immune responses to prevent or treat immune mediated
diseases. A variety of approaches are being pursued to induce T cell tolerance.
These include blocking the activation of T cells by antigen presenting cells
focusing on the interactions of the T cell receptor (TCR) with peptides
presented by the major hisocompatability complex (MHC). Other strategies target
costimulatory pathways in T cells, or the interaction of cell surface adhesion
molecules and their counter ligands. Some of these experimental therapies are
currently being developed as vaccines 24 American Autoimmune
Research Association

"The later part of the 20th
century has witnessed an unprecedented rise in the number of individuals with
impaired immunity. There is considerable experience with most vaccines in those
with impaired immunity" 25 Clinical Microbiology Review, Jan
1998

Recent vaccine research and development has
focused on recombinant DNA vaccines as a way of duplicating natural immunity,
but the findings demonstrate that they work by suppressing the immune system as
well.

Could DNA Vaccines Undermine Immunity?

DNA vaccines consist of a bit of DNA
containing a gene for a marker from the pathogen. The idea is that when the DNA
is injected into the muscle tissue, it works it way into cells where it is
incorporated into cellular DNA. The body "learns" to recognize the
pathogen and mount a strong defense to it in the future.

But research published in the Journal
of Clinical Investigation, shows that instead of being immunized to the
protein encoded by a DNA vaccine, it actually learns to tolerate it. In fact,
when later injected with the same protein, no antibodies were developed at all.
This finding raises the possibility that a DNA vaccine could convert someone
who normally would be able to clear a pathogen-albeit they might get sick
first, to someone who would be unable to clear it at all. 26
Science, 1996

Symptoms and Disease

The paradigm shift in health care is
gradually moving from a symptom based model, to one in which the function,
performance and innate healing potential of the human body is maximized. With
this change in understanding comes the concept that not only are many diseases
normal and natural, they may actually benefit the body by strengthening the
immune system.

"Through the process of
developing and then conquering infection, the child gets rid of acquired toxins
and poisons from the body and receives a boost to the immune system"27
Healing Arts Press

"Whenever the immune system
successfully deals with an infection, it emerges from the experience stronger
and better able to confront similar threats in the future. Our immune system
develops in combat. If at the first sign of infection, you always jump in with
antibiotics, you do not give the immune system a change to grow stronger" 28
Andrew Weil, MD

Several studies have shown that
the incidence of asthma and allergies tend to rise in countries where childhood
immunization rates are high. This has prompted researchers to suggest that certain
infections may trigger immune changes that protect children from developing
asthma and allergies later. Preliminary studies have shown a protective effect
of measles and infections with intestinal parasites. 29 Science
News, 1997

With the rise of vaccines and
antibiotics, people in developed countries have experienced fewer childhood
diseases than ever before and scientists suspect that an immune system with no
serious work to do is likely to become a renegade army, attacking whatever it
encounters30 Newsweek, 1997

In a study of 58 children under
the age of 16 with insulin dependant diabetes and 172 non-diabetic controls,
infection during the 1st year of life was associated with a
reduction in diabetic risk. Infection during the first year of life may have a
protective effect by modifying the lyphocytic response to subsequent
immunological challenges. A link with decreasing early exposure to common
infectious disease could account for the risk of diabetes over the past thirty
years. 31 Archives of Childhood Disease, 1997

Conclusion

The science of immunology is on a fast track
due to recent advances in molecular biology and genetics research. Though there
is still much to be learned, it is become evident that artificial immunity,
stimulated by vaccination is not even close to duplicating immunity received
from natural exposure and may actually work in an immune suppressive fashion.
Pressed by advancing technology and consumer demand, health care is slowly
changing its focus from disease treatment to performance enhancement.
Accompanying this will be an increased emphasis on nutrition, exercise, and
structural integrity of the human frame, all of which maximize the body's
innate healing power

About the Author: Keith Wassung is a nationally known
author and speaker in the field of health education and research. He is
available for speaking engagements and can be contacted at Riverhorse
Publishing, 104 Berkeley Square Lane, Ste 6 Goose Creek, SC 29445, (843)
727-1886, kwassung@earthlink.net

ALL
INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR
GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE
KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED
AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO
VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU
ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.

"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."

-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820

“A sacred cow will not protect the herd.”

-- Sandy Gottstein

"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"

-- Sandy Gottstein

"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"